Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty | In December, a large crowd was on hand in the Wyomissing Junior/Senior High School cafeteria, where the school board voted 7-1 to approve a controversial plan to build a fence around the football stadium.

Reading Eagle: Harold Hoch | The occupants of a property on Girard Avenue in Wyomissing make their feelings known about a proposed fence around the high school football field across the street.

Courtesy of the Wyomissing School District | A drawing shows a portion of the proposed fence around the Wyomissing High School football field. The design has since been changed to remove spikes on top of the fence.

Wyomissing School Board president: Officials have received threats over fence

In the month since the Wyomissing School Board approved a controversial plan to build a fence around the football stadium, district officials have reported a steady stream of anonymous threats.

"The sad fact is that someone - or some group of individuals - has mailed over 23 anonymous post cards, letters and even one package to various school board members, school district administrators and even teachers," said Lesa I. Butera, the school board president.

Butera read a statement about the threats during the board's meeting Monday night. The post cards, letters and package expressed opposition to the fence project and contained threatening and harassing messages, Butera said.

Those messages have been shared with Wyomissing Police and the Berks County District's Attorney's Office.

Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said Monday that an investigation is underway. However, Adams wouldn't disclose specific details on the nature of the threats, saying it could compromise the investigation.

The Wyomissing police officers who are handling the matter were not on duty Monday night.

Julia R. Vicente, Wyomissing superintendent, said after the school board meeting that she was one of the many who received threats. Butera said she also received threats and finds the whole matter very disturbing.

"How would you feel if you received threatening, harassing mail at your home?" she said.

Vicente and Butera said they have not seen such ugly attacks during their time with the district. Butera has been on the school board for two years and Vicente has been with the district for three years.

Butera said the threats have been continual since the school board approved the fence project in a 7-1 vote Dec. 3.

The project elicited strong responses from many in the community. Critics said a fence would limit access to the field and change the landscape of the borough. Some residents posted "Stop the Fence" signs on their lawns and signed a petition. Their opposition has also spurred the creation of a Web site, www.stopthefence.com.

In support of the fence, school board members have cited liability concerns and recent incidents of vandalism. Trash and drug paraphernalia have also been found on the field.

Vicente said it's a shame that anyone would resort to threats when there are respectful ways to disagree. School officials are asking anyone with information about the threats to contact police.